Syncope as an emergency department presentation of pulmonary embolism.
Pulmonary embolism presenting as an isolated syncopal spell can be a difficult clinical correlation to make. We present three cases of pulmonary embolism-induced syncope and review the pathophysiology and diagnostic considerations in this setting. Pulmonary embolism should be considered in the differential diagnosis of every syncopal event that presents to the emergency department, even in the face of cardiac dysrhythmias and normal pulse oximetry values.
Wolfe
T R
TR
Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City 84132, USA.
Allen
T L
TL
D000328:Adult; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D013575:Syncope / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy